AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lyric’s tone doesn’t sit right with me. I thought she liked Ameline. She, Dad, and Mom helped us a lot during the treatments. My family really liked her, and maybe they would’ve accepted her if I had told them who she was to me. Not just my roommate and a girl who was down on her luck.
She was my wife. My reason to exist.
My everything.
But it’s too late to explain that now, isn’t it?
“Thought you liked her,” I say, puzzled by Lyric’s reaction.
Lyric sighs. “I do, but then she left and . . .” her voice trails and she shrugs. “You said it was necessary for law school or something. I somehow believe that. Yesterday, I was still okay, thinking I helped when she was your roommate. But after mulling it over, I realized we became friends during those treatments—or at least I thought so. Hence, why I was so happy to see her, but it seems as though she didn’t share that feeling. Also, she’s been hostile with you since we arrived.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Wait, so now we’re not supposed to like her then?”
“Yep. I’ve decided after sleeping on it that she’s now officially on my bitches-I-hate list.” She grins triumphantly. “A persona non-grata for being terrible to my big brother. In fact, I think you should kick her out of the penthouse now and never speak to her again.”
I gawk at her incredulously. “But this is Ameline we’re talking about.”
Lyric’s gaze drifts toward the stairs. “Yes, the woman who has been taking advantage of your kindness since the moment she met you. You paid for her treatments. Who does that?”
Before I can respond, Ameline’s voice cuts through the tension. “I paid every cent back.” She’s climbing down the stairs, holding onto her backpack.
Lyric glares icily. “Yet, here we are again. You’re coming to us with your problems, and he’s ready to do whatever you need. You’ll be taking advantage of that and then you’ll disappear.”
Ameline lets out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Yet, you were the one that insisted I come with you.” Ame turns to look at me. “I take it you never told them, huh?” She scoffs. “Why am I not surprised? This is exactly why I never believed you back then and why I’ll never believe anything you say. You’re a pathological liar.”
“Ame,” I start, but don’t continue.
What could I say?
I’m sorry things were so screwed up back then. My best friend went MIA, Piper was struggling to adjust. We were afraid she would do something stupid, like fly to the Amazon to search for Archer. Then, my wife nearly died in surgery. Telling my family who Ameline really was to me hadn’t seemed important at the time.
Not when I knew my parents wouldn’t understand my actions. I wanted them to support Ameline, not judge her.
“I meant everything I said,” I state, trying not to sound weak. “Every I love you, every . . . You were wrong.”
Ameline shrugs. “You might want to deny it, but the truth is that I was never important enough.” She glances at Lyric. “Gabe offered me more than a lifeline back then, and I took what he offered, believing he meant it. After all, I had fallen in love with him. Later, I realized everything was a lie and that’s why I left. If I’m here, it is because I didn’t want to end up fighting with him in the middle of the airport. Those tended to be pretty nasty at the end of our relationship. I’m leaving, and I promise you’ll never see me again.”
“Ame, we had an agreement,” I remind her.
She lets out an icy laugh, shaking her head.“We’ve made so many, and you broke them all. All. It’s my turn to break mine.”
“Ameline, stop,” I say sharply.
She does, and it gives me a little hope. But when she turns back, she adds, “I’ll send the divorce papers later this week. This time you should sign them.” She glances at Lyric. “So your family can stop saying that I’m taking advantage of poor Saint Gabriel.”
Ameline starts to head for the door, but Lyric quickly runs over and blocks her path. “Oh no you don’t,” Lyric says, crossing her arms defiantly. “You’re not getting out of here that easily after dropping that bomb.”
Ameline stops short, glaring at Lyric. “Get out of my way,” she demands through gritted teeth.
“I don’t think so. You two are going to tell me exactly what happened back then,” Lyric shoots back, holding her ground. She widens her stance, making it clear she has no intention of moving.
Ame’s hands curl into fists. “Your brother can tell you everything.”
“They say that there’s always two sides to a story,” Lyric states. “I want to hear both now.”
“Would love to stay and chat,” Ame says. “But I need to go.”
“Well, one of you should start talking and fast,” Lyric prompts. “I’m not moving from here until you two catch me up on every detail.”
